[Sexual functions after laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) in preoperatively asymptomatic women].

OBJECTIVE: To find the consequences of laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) for sexual functions in preoperatively asymptomatic women. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General Teaching Hospital in Prague. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 100 women without subjective complaints hysterectomy was performed for benign uterine pathology. In all the women the uterus weighted less than 250 g, there were no salpingooophorectomies and no perioperative complications. Women were alternativelly assigned for LAVH (n = 50) or TLH (n = 50). Clinical documentation and questionnaires about sexual functions were evaluated in 87 women (in 40 women after LAVH and in 47 after TLH) 18 months after surgery or later. RESULTS: According to our findings the type of surgery did not influence the frequency of sexual activity after surgery, there was no change in sexual manners using during coitus as well as no change in preferred way how to reach the sexual arousal (clitoridally, vaginally or combined). The type of surgery did not influence frequency, quality and duration of orgasm. From all the evaluated parameters there were only two significantly different: the presence of postoperative sexual activity (positive answer in all women from LAVH group and only in 85% women from TLH group, F test, p = 0.009) and the frequency of sexual satisfaction (in terms of both increase and also decrease in TLH group chi2 8,376, p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: The type of laparoscopic hysterectomy (LAVH or TLH) does not significantly affect the sexual functions (frequency of sexual satisfaction, type of sexual arousability, intensity and duration of orgasm) in preoperatively asymptomatic women.